An agreement was yesterday reached between the Anambra State Government, a private developer, Bukham Nigeria Limited and the leadership of Onitsha Patents & Proprietary Medicine Dealers Union (OPPMDU) for the construction of 5,000 medicine shops at the new International Market, Oba in Idemili South Local Government Area of the state.

Under the agreement, the state government would allocate the shops on completion to members of OPPMDU for outright purchase.

Anambra State Commissioner for Trade, Commerce, Market and Wealth Creation, Mrs. Uzoamaka Ilobi who was at the signing ceremony in Awka said that the proposed drug market would meet all the conditions stipulated by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)

According to her, it was part of the arrangement by the state government to relocate the drug market from the Onitsha Bridge Head to the new Oba International Market, adding that construction of the 5,000 shops would begin next month.

In her words: “There is an ongoing arrangement for members of OPPMDU to purchase existing 1, 500 shops at the Oba market to fast track their relocation from Onitsha so as to give the state, especially the Head Bridge area, a face lift.

“With the movement of members of OPPMDU to Oba, Governor Willie Obiano would be fulfilling one of his campaign promises, which is to decongest Onitsha metropolis.

“Besides, over 2,000 jobs will be created in the course of the construction of the 5, 000 shops and the project is an investment of over N10 billion.”

The Commissioner disclosed that about five other market associations have also indicated interest to move from Onitsha to the Oba International Market saying that proper documentation and processing had already begun between the private developer and her ministry.

•Photo shows Governor Obiano.

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